Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s open to changing the nonpartisan way that a commission recommends filling vacancies to the Iowa Supreme Court, a move that would have implications for a wide range of issues including the legality of abortion in the state.

"If there are legislators talking about that, they'll file a bill, they'll go through the process, they'll give Iowans the opportunity to weigh in, so I'll look forward to see what that looks like and we'll follow the process," Reynolds, a Republican, said in answering questions at a news conference Tuesday.

Pressed by reporters on whether she thinks there are problems with the current setup, she said: "I'm open to taking a look at it and this is the process that it'll go through to make that happen."

Overturning language on the commission in the state constitution would require years of legislative approval and, eventually, voter approval. It's unclear if lawmakers would try to work around that by approving a bill that doesn't propose a constitutional amendment but instead seeks to change the makeup of the nominating committee.

Reynolds said she is reserving additional comment until she sees a formal proposal.

The commission is made up of:

A chair, who is the senior justice of the supreme court other than the chief justice

Eight lawyer commissioners elected by Iowa lawyers

Eight non-lawyer commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate

Every commission member except the chair serves one six-year term. Those terms are staggered.

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